Alcaraz, a champion with class: "He told me I'd played at a very good level".

Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his Olympic tournament with serenity.

Up against the modest Hady Habib, ranked 275th, the Spaniard didn't need to exert himself too much to win in just over an hour (6-3, 6-1).

Interviewed after the match, "Carlito's" latest victim returned to the words of the latter when they shook hands at the net.

All smiles, he declared: "He told me I'd played at a very good level, which surprised me on his part. His words at the net touched my heart, I take them with humility and I'm very flattered by what he said.

I've played with Alcaraz and I've realized that I'm not that far away. I need to concentrate on working hard to reach this level."